Above all for-New Zealand Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1929 Attitudes and Attributes

NZ Truth, Issue 1214, 7 March 1929, Page 6

Above all forNew Zealand Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1929 Attitudes and Attributes

gEEMINGLY, the predominant : elements m political life are the number of decorative at- [ titudes, mental and verbal, which ■■ may successfully be adopted; while trailing some distance m the rear come what should be equally important m the lives and records of politicians, namely, the attributes or capacities for achievement and actual effect. ...,.■-.' A few days ago, the Prime Minister [ Informed the New Zealand Manufac- i hirers' Federation that wherever practicable Government departments would receive instructions to use accessories and materials according to requirement. Here we have an example of nicelyworded expression .of intention, spoilt, only by the frayed, edges perceived upon closer inspection. '•It is stimulating, indeed, to receive such . assurances, and gratifying to executives of our secondary industries, who are encouraged to believe that m theory, at least, national, executives are propounding a policy which should level many problems. . Yet about such pronouncements one detects the tang of erstwhile slogans concerning men "who get things done," and we are constrained' to question where we otherwise might accept. Better far if Sir Joseph Ward and his ministers issued orders, saw they were properly interpreted, watched the effect and then declared it, than to lean heavily upon the old loitering-post of anticipated action. Later m the same day of Sir Joseph's declaration, came the reported statement of the Minister of Industries and Mines, the Hon. J. G, Cobbe, who said he felt" "sure the indifference of New Zealanders towards goods made in' the Dominion must be due to the ignorance of theVange and quality of the articles produced here." Such a statement, unqualified m any way, and from such a source is very surprising. Most New Zealanders have, a definite, opinion as to the merit of products manufactured m this country; and "with ■ the realisation that m many cases such goods are comparable with any imported productions, use and recommend them. ■ By this time Sir Joseph Ward has intrigued us with his anticipations.. A year hence, we hope, he will have persuaded us that all he hoped would . come to pass has merged into the realm of established fact.